Waffle House shared a map showing which of its restaurants in Florida are closed ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.
As of 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Milton had intensified back to a Category 5 storm after briefly being downgraded to a Category 4. With sustained winds of 165 mph, the storm is now expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay around 1 a.m. Thursday.
At 3:30 p.m. ET, Waffle House posted an updated map indicating which locations are closed, offering limited service, or operating 24 hours with a full menu. The chain also warned, “Due to potential changes in Milton’s path, this information may be updated without notice. Please follow local advisories."
Evacuation orders have been issued for numerous Florida counties ahead of Milton’s arrival, including mandatory orders along much of the state’s western coast, from Levy County to Collier County.
Schools and universities across Florida have also shut down in preparation for the hurricane. Emergency shelters have been opened in counties under evacuation orders for those unable to leave the area.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has taken steps to aid evacuation efforts by preparing roadways. Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended tolls across central and western Florida. Additionally, FDOT has activated Emergency Shoulder Use on Interstates 4 and 75 to help manage traffic flow for those evacuating impacted areas.
A Waffle House spokesperson told Newsweek via email that the company’s priority is ensuring the safety of its staff. "In areas expected to be hardest hit, we will close restaurants preemptively, with the goal of reopening as soon as it is safe. We will follow local evacuation orders," the spokesperson added.
